HEREDITARY ELLIPTOCYTOSIS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Berf Newlittle has repeatedly suffered from haemolytic anemia
• We diagnose him with hereditary Elliptocytosis
• Red blood cells declined over time.
• Blood cells are normally disc shaped but his were elliptical.
• His diagnostics showed damage and rupture of cells.

CYTOSKELETON

• Normally, the cytoskeleton holds organelles in place
• The cytoskeleton also helps the cell maintain its shape
• Hereditary Elliptocytosis causes the cytoskeleton to become destabilized
• Destabilization of the cytoskeleton causes red blood cells to deformed
• Berf is experiencing this deformation

CYTOSKELETON (cont.)

• Because his cells are different it causes ruptures
• These ruptures damage the inside of the cell
• The cytoplasm holds the cell together through filaments and skeleton like structures
• Hereditary Elliptocytosis causes the cytoskeleton to not be able to complete its function